Fluid-operated liquid pump



Jan. 6, 1953 E. c. HALL 2,624,285

FLUID-OPERATED LIQUID PUMP Filed April 11, 1951 2 SHEETSSHE ET l 1752A?jj'g g p/semuce DISCHARGE Z4- POWER LINE I Z? 47 -ml 48 l 3 E? 38 32no-roR PUHPING 42 23 26 I7 73 cnmam z y 74 I A? I l INVEN TOR.

Ell/S C. HALL A1 "fa/war Jan. 6, 1953 E. C. HALL FLUID- OPERATED LIQUIDPUMP 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. 624/5 6' HALL Arm/M Patented Jan. 6,1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2,624,285 FLUID-OPERATED LIQUID PUMPEllis f. Hall, Jackson, 1Miss.', assignor jzto Development iGompany,Jackson, Miss.

JAimifieatifen pr-i1 ,11, 1951, 'SerialNo.122Q, l33 .2 iGlaims. (01.103-46) in my prior'application. -'I- his-new-apparatu's*includes anovel arrangementof valves and ports therefor together Witha'pairofn VeIpistons'one of which acts to reciprocate a pump arm in a novel manner. Anovel arrangement of'pipe and pipe connectionsis'provided-for{thevarious ports of the pump-actuatingapparatus. I

It is accordingly a'nob'je ctof the inventionto provide an apparatus ofthe character set forth which is comparatively simple in construction,easy to manufacture *and yet reflective and eflicient in use. v g

Another objector the inventionisthe provision in an apparatus of thecharacter; -setforth, -0f novel means for theeummauonbr knocking?Another object of the invention is the provision, in an apparatus ofthecharactersetforth, of novel valves and novel'- meansforioperating thesame. I g i V 7 A further ohject-of-the invention is'the' provl sion ofan apparatus of --the character set forth wherein packing is-renderedunnecessary.

Other and further-phje'cts of the invention will become-apparent from areading of 'tth'e following specification takenin conjunct-ion-with-thedrawings, inwhich: I 7 it Figure 1 is a iragmentaryvertical "sectionalview, partly exploded, and-partly inelevation; of a pump-operatingmechanism forming-apartpf the invention and showing the same m onepositionwhi'ch it'may assume; t

"Figure 1A is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, partly inelevation, 6f"-a' pump-iorminga part of the invention and fshpwlljlgfthesameas it would appear when connected with the apparatus shown in-Figure1;

Figure 2 i is "a fragmentary vereeerseaiona view showing the apparatusillustrated :in Figures 1 andl-A butshow-ingjtheapparatus-therein inanother position the' sa me may as'sume during the operation thereof;

Figure-3is an exploded'vertical sectional tiew,

:2 partly in-elevation, illustrating the manne'r in which the apparatusis positioned within a well casing, and u Figure 4 isan enlargedfragmentary vertical sectional view of aportion of the apparatus shownin Figure 1 but illustrating the sar'n'e in greater detail. I

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown thereinembedded in ground ID a well casing Il having adjacentit'shottom end awell packer 12 'upon which rests a cylindrical housing l3 for a pumpingunit and pump such "as is illustrated, for example; in Figure 2 of thedrawings.

Extending from the housing l3 u wardly 'thro'ugh thecasing H a bwer lineM and a discharge lin'e 1 5 both-ofwhi'ch are-connected to a highpressure pump J6 on the surface of the ground which pump is operated bythe shaft ll of a motor 1 8. The di'schar-ge line e-ha's tapped inthereto a discharge pipe 19 at the surface of the=ground. A check valveis placed in the dischargeline l5 -preferably at a point adjacent to theupper endotthe housing :13.

.[t is-to be under'stood that the housing 13 is provided with a suitableopening in its lower end for the admission thereinto of oil or Water asthe case maybe. In the lower endof the housing 131 there ismountedyapump which is best illustrated in FigurelA andfwhich consists of anelongated hollow cylindrical casing-2| having a centrally disposedenlarged portion ,22. The casing 2| is closed at its bottom end, asindicatedat-Zt, and open at its upperend, as indicated at 24.. Averticallyand centrally located shaft .25 extends throughsthe'pumpicas'ins 2i and is provided with 'a-fiangeZG atits lowerend-andabumper 21 at its upper end. Substantially centrallyaiifixed tothe f s a r i e a enistonzfl ho t r periphery is in conta'ct with theinner wall of'the enlarged portion 2 2.

A piston 29 is provided' in the lower .portion of the pump ca'singiill-and' is affixed to the shaft -25. The pist ifiis-prov ded i th a a r oope ings 3B whichextenditherethrough. A circular valveS Lot flatmaterial surrounds the shaft 25 below; the, piston i 9xan'd is normallyheld against the under side of the pistonjze by, a compressionspring-32"which surrounds the shaft zj and bears against the flange liiand .the valve} l.

A- valve 33 is affixedtq the shaftjZ5 in the upper o o o "the, mp asin.andi i nt instructure with the valve ,29. -{Ihe Valve 33 is provided-with openir igs 34 which extend ver- 'ti'cally therethrough-anda valve35 identical with with a bulkhead 39 which divides the same into a pairof compartments 40 and 4|, the compartment 4| being immediately abovethe pump and the compartment 49 being above the compartment 4|.

A hollow cylindrical piston is vertically reciprocable in thecompartment 4| and is indicated at 42. This piston 42 is provided with aclosed lower end 43. The shaft 25 extends slidably through the closedend 43 of the piston 42 and it will be apparent that the bumper 21 lieswithin the piston 42 and above the closed end 43 thereof.

A shaft 44 is vertically and centrally disposed in the compartment 4|]and has mounted thereon an upper piston 45 and a lowerpiston 46. Alsomounted upon the shaft 44 in spaced relation to each other and to thepistons 45 and 46 are relatively smaller pistons 41 and 48 and it willbe seen that the pistons 45, 46, 41 and 48 together with the shaft 44will move reciprocally as a unit within the compartment 49.

The compartment 49 is provided with an upper port 49, a lower port 50and five intermediate ports 52, 53, 54 and 55. It will also be seen thatthe pump casing 2| is provided with an upper port 56 and a lower port 51while the compartment 4| is centrally provided with a series of fiveports 58, 59, 60, 6| and 62.

The lower end of the power line I 4 is connected by a lateral pipe 63with the port 62. It is also connected by a lateral pipe 64 with theport 58, by a lateral pipe 65 with the port 55 and alateral pipe 65 withthe port 5|. The lower end of the discharge line I5 is connected by' alateral pipe 61 with the port 69 and by means of a lateral pipe 68 withthe port 53. The ports 50 and 6| are interconnected by means of aU-shaped pipe 69 and the ports 59 and 49 are connected by an elongatedU-shaped pipe 10. The ports 52 and 51 are interconnected by means of anelongated U- shaped pipe 1| while the ports 54 and 56 are interconnectedby means of an elongated U-shaped pipe 12.

The piston 42 is provided with a series of three spaced cutawayportions, as indicated at 13, 14 and 15, and the enlarged portion 22 ofthe pump casing 2| is provided with an upper inlet valve 16a and a lowerinlet valve 11a. An annular indentation 15 is provided in the piston 42adjacent the lower end thereof and a spring-pressed ball 11 is mountedin the wall of the extension 38 and is adapted to latch the piston 42 inits uppermost position such as is indicated in Figure 2 of the drawingsby engaging in the groove 16.

In operation, beginning with the positions of the various pistons, etc.as shown in Figures 1 and 1A, when the motor I8 is operated it willcause the fluid pressure pump It to furnish fluid under pressure to thepower line I4 and thence through lateral pipe 64 to the port 53, thencethrough the reduced portion 13 to the port 59 and thence through theU-shaped pipe to the port 49 where it will enter into the upper end ofthe chamber 40 to cause the pistons therein to move downwardly to apoint Where the shaft 44 can no longer move in a downward position dueto the same impingin against the bulkhead 39. Since in this position theports 60 and GI are in communication through the reduced portion 14,fluid which has been in the lower end of the compartment 49 beneath thepiston 46 will be discharged through the port 50 into the pipe 69 andhence by means of the lateral pipe 61 to eventually discharge into thedischarge line i5 whereupon it will be forced past the valve 24 whichwill prevent its return in any event in a downward direction. It willthen return sufflcient fluid to the pump It to insure the operationthereof and deliver any excess through. the discharge pipe l9.

When the pistons in the chamber 45 are in their downward position, asshown in Figure 1, some of the fluid under pressure in the power line l4will pass through the lateral pipe 66 into the port 5| and thence-travelbetween the pistons 45 and 41 to the port 52 whence it will be led bymeans of the U-shaped pipe 1| to the port 51 in the lower end of thepump casing 2| thus causing the pistons 29, 28 and 33 to be liftedwhereupon fluid will be drawn into the pump through the valves 11a fromthe interior of the well casing At the same time valve 16a will beforced to a closed position and the valve 35 will be opened by thisaction thus forcing fluid which is present in the pump casing 2| abovethe piston 28 to be forced through the port 56 into the U-shaped pipe 12and thence into'the port 54 which is at this timein communication withthe port 53 between the pistons 48 and 41. The fluid will thencebe'delivered to the lateral pipe 68 and'finally to the discharge pipe l5as aforesaid.

As the pistons 29, 28 and 33 rise the bumper 31 will eventually contactthe underside of the closed end 43 of the piston 42 to thereby lift thesame. This will cause the ports 59 and 60 to be in communication witheach other through the reduced portion 14. It will also cause the portsEl and 62 to be in communication with each other by means of the reducedportion 15. Hence pressure of fluid inthe power line l4 will now beapplied through the U-shaped pipe 59 to the underside of the piston 46to lift the shaft 44 and all of its attached pistons. This will causefluid entrapped in the chamber 4|] above the piston 45 to pass throughthe port 49 into the U-shaped pipe 10 and through the port 59 to theport 60 utilizing the reduced portion 14 of the valve 42 for thispurpose after which it will be delivered to the lateral pipe 61 andfinally to the discharge line l5. Such action will, of course, permitthe various pistons attached to the shaft to take their uppermostpositions as shown in Figure 2, for example. Ports 52 and 53 will beconnected together through the space between pistons 41 and 48 and ports54 and 55 will now be connected together between the pistons 48 and 45thus reversing the direction of travel of the pistons 33, 28 and 29.Thus it will be seen that fluid will continuously be forced in an upwarddirection through the discharge line [5 through the action as abovedescribed even though the pistons 33, 28 and 29 are reciprocating in thepump casing 2|. When the piston 42 is in its upward position it will beheld there by the frictional engagement of the ball 11 in the groove 16and it will be apparent that the device will be fully operative eventhough the shaft 44 and its pistons may e'ifa ifest- 'revolve upon'their'longitudlnal sizes or if the pistons 42 should revolve upon itsaxis. It will likewise be seen that the apparatus is "capable of smooth,990 31 1 Q iQQFJE Q 139W JQ fluid in both the power line 14 andthedischarge line I5 is a constant unidirectional flow.

The discharge line -lfi as shown in Figure '3 may "be eliminated *bystopping "this line above the check valve 20. This will let the fluidinto the casing, which will act as a discharge line by having a wellpacker [2. By doing this one string of pipe in the well is eliminated.This arrangement can be used optionally.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein,it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minormodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a well casingextending vertically into the ground, a cylindrical housing positionedin the lower portion of said well casing, a high pressure fluid pumpmounted above ground, a fluid supply conduit extending from said highpressure fluid pump through said casing into said housing, a fluidreturn conduit extending from said high pressure fluid pump through saideasing into said housing, a discharge pipe connected to said fluidreturn conduit, a reciprocally operated fluid pump in the lower end ofsaid housing, and fluid pressure operated means mounted in said housingabove said reciprocally operated fluid pump for actuating saidreciprocally operated fluid pump, said means having connection with thefluid supply and fluid return conduits, and said means including ahollow cylindrical body having a centrally disposed bulkhead dividingthe same into an upper and a lower compartment, a piston reciprocallymounted in said lower compartment, a vertical shaft in said uppercompartment, a plurality of pistons affixed to the shaft in the uppercompartment, said piston in the lower compartment having a plurality ofreduced portions, said body having a plurality of ports extending to theupper compartment and a plurality of ports extending into the lowercompartment, a pipe connecting on of the ports of the upper compartmentwith the fluid return conduit, a pipe connecting one of the ports of theupper compartment with the upper end of said reciprocal pump, a pipeconnecting a port of the upper compartment with the lower end of saidreciprocal pump, a pair of pipes connecting ports of the uppercompartment with the fluid supply conduit, a pair of pipes connectingports of the lower compartment with the fluid supply conduit, a pair ofpipes each interconnecting a port of said upper compartment with a portin said lower compartment, said pistons in the upper compartment actingas valves to interiorly and selectively interconnect pairs of ports ofsaid upper compartment, and said reduced portions in said piston in thelower compartment actin as valves to selectively and interiorlyinterconnect pairs of ports of said lower compartment, and meansconnected with said piston in the lower compartment for actuating thereciprocal pump, and said reciprocally operated fluid pump including avertically extending cylindrical pump housing having an enlargedcylindrical portion, a centrally disposed shaft in said pump housing, apiston affixed to said shaft in the upper portion l 6 of said pumphousing, 'afpislltonfafii'xed to said shaft ,in the lower portion "of :sing, a relatively iargerfpiston shaft in said enlarged central p6 ion,an inlet valve in the upperr'enfdbf'saide la ears-awn, an inletvalve-in'the lower e 4 portion, an upwardly openinghe gay v'alve for theuppermost piston, {a downwardly -"opening one-way valve for thelowermost pis'ton, and fluid :lines interconnecting "the upper and lowerends of said pump housing wit h said ilu'id pres- 'sure operated means.7 i

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a well casingextending vertically into the ground, a cylindrical housing positionedin the lower portion of said well casing, a high pressure fluid pumpmounted above ground, a fluid supply conduit extending from said highpressure fluid pump through said casing into said housing, a fluidreturn conduit extending from said high pressure fluid pump through saideasing into said housing, a discharge pipe connected to said fluidreturn conduit, a reciprocally operated fluid pump in the lower end ofsaid housing, and fluid pressure operated means mounted in said housingabove said reciprocally operated fluid pump for actuating saidreciprocally operated fluid pump, said means having connection with thefluid supply and fluid return conduits, and said means including ahollow cylindrical body having a centrally disposed bulkhead dividingthe same into an upper and a lower compartment, a piston reciprocallymounted in said lower compartment, a vertical shaft in said uppercompartment, a plurality of pistons aflixed to the shaft in the uppercompartment, said piston in the lower compartment having a plurality ofreduced portions, said body having a plurality of ports extending to theupper compartment and a plurality of ports extending into the lowercompartment, a pipe connecting one of the ports of the upper compartmentwith the fluid return conduit, a pipe connecting one of the ports of theupper compartment with the upper end of said reciprocal pump, a pipeconnecting a port of the upper compartment with the lower end of saidreciprocal pump, a pair of pipes connecting ports of the uppercompartment with the fluid supply conduit, a pair of pipes connectingports of the lower compartment with the fluid supply conduit, a pair ofpipes each interconnecting a port of said upper compartment with a portin said lower compartment, said pistons in the upper compartment actingas valves to interiorly and selectively interconnect pairs of ports insaid upper compartment, and said reduced portions in said piston in thelower compartment acting as valves to selectively and interiorlyinterconnect pairs of ports of said lower compartment, and meansconnected with said piston in the lower compartment for actuating thereciprocal pump, and said reciprocally operated fluid pump including avertically extending cylindrical pump housing having an enlargedcylindrical portion, a centrally disposed shaft in said pump housing, apiston aflixed to said shaft in the upper portion of said pump housing,a piston aflixed to said shaft in the lower portion of said pumphousing, a relatively larger piston affixed to said shaft in saidenlarged central portion, an inlet valve in the upper end of saidenlarged portion, an inlet valve in the lower end of said enlargedportion, an upwardly opening one-way valve for the uppermost piston, adownwardly 7 7 opening one-way valve for the lowermost piston,REFERENCES CITED and mud fines interconnectmg the upper and Thefollowing references are of record in the lower end of said pump housingwith said fluid me of this patent: pressure operated means, saidlast-mentioned 1 means including a closed bottom for the piston 5 UNITEDSTATES PATENTS in the lower chamber, said bottom having an Number NameDate opening for slidably receiving therethrough the 1,857,405 Scott eta1 May 10, 1932 upper end of the shaft of said reciprocal pump, 2.2,245,501 Richardson June 10, 1941 bumper afiixed to the upper end ofsaid pump 7 1 shaft within the piston in said lower chamber, 10

and a bumper amxed to the pump shaft below said bottom and in spacedrelation to the firstmentioned bumper. V ELLIS C. HALL.

